MN SF2722

Commissioner of employment and economic development shall establish a pilot grant program to provide equal-amount grants to eligible regional development commissions and regional initiative foundations in counties with no more than 60,000 residents to support local economic development initiatives focused on attracting workers and residents through enhanced digital marketing.

Eligible organizations must demonstrate existence of local economic development initiatives using digital content marketing, have communities engaged in collaborative regional marketing efforts, operate active social media campaigns promoting progressive business climate, and show evidence that outreach efforts are attracting new businesses and expanding the workforce.

Grants may be used for operating costs including staff, office space, computers, and Web development; training community ambassadors; building social media infrastructure; and Web development contracts with vendors having at least three years of economic development marketing experience and six current clients, with preference given to Minnesota-based contractors.

Grant awards require 25 percent matching funds from nonstate resources and must be integrated with the Minnesota LocationOne Information System or its successor.

$1,000,000 appropriated from general fund for fiscal year 2017, available until June 30, 2019; grant recipients must report to commissioner by January 1, 2017 on fund usage and results, with commissioner reporting to legislature by February 15, 2017.